Neymar was quiet in Bayern Munich’s Champions League triumph over Paris Saint-Germain Tuesday evening, but fans who crave watching the new PSG star were still able to see him play from all angles thanks to a new offering in the BT Sport App.
BT Sport, the sports division of British Telecommunications, announced Tuesday that it would provide 360-degree highlights and instant replays through its mobile app, beginning with the Bayern-PSG contest. The content is viewable with or without VR headsets — although fans could certainly use the cardboard ones BT Sport gave out for last year’s Champions League final — and covers Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup football matches, as well as boxing.
Fans were also able to view the immersive content for at least 20 events before June, including Wednesday’s Champions League matchup between Tottenham Hotspur and APOEL Nicosia, according to the announcement. BT Sport subscribers can access the 360-degree content via the app’s video player timeline, where typical content is also available.
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According to the announcement, BT Sport’s adoption of 360-degree video is the latest in an effort to enhance its broadcasts through technology. BT Sport claims it was the first broadcaster to show televised live sports in 4K ultra-HD and the first to use Dolby’s Atmos for audio. BT Sport also partnered last year with LiveLike to stream football matches in virtual reality.
“This is another first for 360° broadcasting. It’s another step forward in broadcast innovation that will give BT Sport the best possible viewing experience and shows BT Sport continues its commitment to be at the heart of this,” BT Sport COO Jamie Hindhaugh said in a statement.
“We’re passionate about sport and technology and want to continue to explore new ways to combine them for the benefit of our viewers and bring them closer to the action.”